Learn: Expert Homebuilding Articles

Our Learn Hub is designed to guide you through every stage of custom homebuilding. From budgeting and site prep to financing, building, and life after move-in, you’ll find expert articles that answer the most important questions before you build.

Choosing A Builder

Planning

Choosing A Builder

Warning Signs When Hiring a Homebuilder

Before hiring a homebuilder, read these warning signs on how to tell if a contractor is offering you a deal that is just too good to be true. An educational resource from Robert Carroll and Carroll Construction.

Choosing a Qualified Builder for Your New Home

Get expert insight on how to choose a home builder, including what to look for in their licenses, insurance coverage, and their online reviews. Also learn the distinction between a “Licensed Contractor” and “Licensed Builder”.

Common Mistakes When Planning to Build a New Home…And How to Avoid Them

Expert insight about what to expect when planning to build a new house so you can avoid the common obstacles or be prepared to deal any surprises. This article reveals 3 common mistakes taken by real-world clients, plus tips on how you can avoid making those mistakes.

The 3 Keys to Designing Beautiful Spaces When Building a Home

The 3 Keys to Designing Beautiful Spaces When Building a Custom Home

This article reveals the three major focus points that are critical to achieving a successful design for planning and constructing a custom home and by showing that every foundational choice requires a balance between affordable, practical and desirable, and how finding the ideal mix is crucial to producing the home of your dreams.

Select Your Home’s Exterior Style

An important aspect of the Feasibility Review is to narrow down the style of home you want. To help clarify your options, we’ve compiled some of the popular home styles that influence most Louisiana home buyers. The majority of designs in our area can be classified as “Acadian Style”.

Designing House Plans for New Construction

Now that you know all the fundamentals about your land, exterior style, and most amenities, you’re now able to work with the builder to find a draftsman or architect to create the house plans!

Get Ready For Construction of a New Custom Home

Learn what to expect in the final steps of the custom home building process. We cover insurance issues, loan closing dates, setting a start date for construction, and how to manage the details once construction begins.

Aerial view of a grassy rural lot with overlay text asking “Is Your Land Build-Ready?”, a checklist icon, and labeled site prep elements like water, utilities, and elevation.

Conduct Your Own Feasibility Review

Use this helpful resource to start mapping out a path to building your custom home! A feasibility review is an essential tool that allows you to determine where to build, what it will look like, what features will be included, & about how much it will cost.

How Construction Loans Work in Louisiana (What Lenders Expect)

Learn about the financing terms, structuring payments for the loan, and common types of construction loans…plus the common documents needed to apply for a construction loan.

Obtaining Financing & Signing the Contract

After receiving a written estimate from the builder, it is time to secure financing for construction. This article provides key resources and guidance about obtaining financing, along with what to expect during the process.

The Dirty Secrets About Dirt Work

It’s imperative that homeowners know a bit about the process in order to identify common “dirty tricks” and careless shortcuts that disreputable contractors use. Read this article to learn what to watch for while building the foundation of your new home.

Magnifying glass over a blended map showing satellite imagery and a planned subdivision layout, representing land selection for a custom home

Selecting Land for a Custom Home

One of the biggest decision is if you want to live on Rural Land or on a lot in an Established Subdivision. The choice should be made early because the size of your lot may restrict the design of your home. Conversely, the design of your home may also limit the size of lots you consider. Read more about the Pros & Cons.

Blue Louisiana flood zone map with educational overlay titled "Know Before You Build: Considerations for Building in a Flood Zone"

Considerations For Building In Flood Zones

Although there are certain risks to building a new home inside a flood zone, most of those risks can be mitigated. Learn what is needed to determine if the land you choose is in a flood zone, how to request a determination, and how to mitigate the risks with building there.

How to Obtain and Accurate Quote for a Custom Home - Carroll Construction Article

How to Obtain an ACCURATE Quote for a Custom Home

“How to Obtain an Accurate Quote for a Custom Home” is a free resource on how to avoid that bait and switch feeling when building a custom house.

Choosing Features and Fixtures for your new home

Consider Your Amenities When Building a New Home

After you narrow down your architectural style, it’s time to start choosing the general features, amenities and fixtures that will go into your new home. This page contains a short-list of the elements of a house that typically affect the overall investment.

Bidding the Work for New Construction

Once the plans have been completed, it is time to meet for a pre-bid meeting with your selected contractor. Read this article for an overview of the bidding process. Keep in mind that the bidding process may span over a month, so be patient.

green building eco environmental friendly home construction

Green Building: Environmentally Friendly Home Design

We have studied green building for years so that you don’t have to. We take the guesswork out of green building so you don’t break the bank.

Knocking Out the Fear of Punch Lists

We take a “deep dive” into an often overlooked and under-appreciated aspect of construction contracts by explaining the best practices for addressing punch list items.

Carroll Construction

12693 LA-67, Clinton

One2XL ★★★★★ a year ago

I am blessed to have the opportunity to write a review for Carroll Construction. This is the most outstanding, dedicated, professional, family friendly God loving, company (and team) … More I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Building a home can be a daunting experience and building it alone was not something I thought I would ever take on. The Carroll Construction team from day one limited the anxious feelings. Moving through the pre-building experience was worth its weight in gold. As I worked with the team through various iterations of my build, we got it just as I needed - plus some!! I knew exactly what I was building and just as importantly, what I was spending before they even broke ground! I was made to feel a part of their team as they listened, guided and provided exceptional expertise in a multitude of areas. As the build started I was provided a calendar and knew each day who was on site and what was being worked on. I could not have made a better decision than to work with this team. If you are blessed to work with Carroll Construction just know you are in good hands from start to finish! May God bless them, their families and all their happy customers! Cindy Graham

5.0 25 reviews

One2XL ★★★★★ a year ago
I am blessed to have the opportunity to write a review for Carroll Construction. This is the most outstanding, dedicated, professional, family friendly God loving, company (and team) … More I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Building a home can be a daunting experience and building it alone was not something I thought I would ever take on. The Carroll Construction team from day one limited the anxious feelings. Moving through the pre-building experience was worth its weight in gold. As I worked with the team through various iterations of my build, we got it just as I needed - plus some!! I knew exactly what I was building and just as importantly, what I was spending before they even broke ground! I was made to feel a part of their team as they listened, guided and provided exceptional expertise in a multitude of areas. As the build started I was provided a calendar and knew each day who was on site and what was being worked on. I could not have made a better decision than to work with this team. If you are blessed to work with Carroll Construction just know you are in good hands from start to finish! May God bless them, their families and all their happy customers! Cindy Graham
Evelyn Boe ★★★★★ 8 months ago
The Best! Very knowledgeable and respectful! The entire process from start to finish was amazing. Totally stress free! Thank you Carroll Construction for helping make our dream come … More true. We are truly grateful and very blessed. ( Bonus.. We are neighbors!)
Amanda Riley ★★★★★ a year ago
In 2023 we began the search for a custom home builder, to build our forever home. This process was overwhelming because, let’s be honest, you have to be careful when choosing the right … More contractor. We almost made the wrong choice, but so thankful God led us to Carroll Construction! Our initial conversation with the owner, Robert Carroll, gave us the clear direction that we needed when choosing the right company. I knew this was the home builder we could trust with our build. Trust is the most important attribute a contractor can hold. The open communication, organization, the willingness to truly listen to our wants and needs, is exactly what the entire team at Carroll Construction gave to our family. The team, as a whole, is detailed-oriented and willing to go above and beyond the “standard” expectations. The entire process is arranged to ensure the customer is “in the know” through the entire build, and to make certain there are no surprises along the way. From the initial consultation, through the interior home design process, to the final signing of the contract to begin construction, I felt at ease and assured our forever home would turn out exactly as planned. Carroll Construction not only met our expectations but surpassed what we imagined! Our beautifully new constructed home is complete and we are beyond thankful for the entire team, at Carroll Construction, for making this experience flawless and stress-free. If you’re beginning this process, or about to sign a contract to begin your construction, stop and make sure you’re making the right choice. If you’re choosing Carroll Construction, sit back, enjoy the build, and let the stress-free process allow you to make memories along the way.
millicent dittmar ★★★★★ 9 months ago
We just finished a home with Carroll Construction and could not be happier! After a previously challenging build with another builder, we were a bit gun shy about starting the process … More again. It was also going to be a remote build which added to the anxiety since we wouldn’t be up there on a regular basis. All of those fears and anxiety were put to rest instantly. Robert’s attention to detail and clear communications kept us informed on everything, and he handled the few issues that came up without any worry on our part. Tracy was the most intuitive designer I’ve worked with in any capacity and finished our home perfectly, and Bethanie was the most meticulous forewoman who kept everyone in line and made sure we were always kept apprised of what was going on at the site with texts and pictures. She was also a fantastic animal wrangler! The team became much more than our builders; they became our friends. As I told them, we would do this all over again because the process was so easy, timely and stress free. That is saying it all for us. A client couldn’t ask for better!
Robert Hebert ★★★★★ 2 months ago
Robert and his crew were great to work with! Very detail oriented and nimble with our requests and timeline.
We were extremely pleased with our results and would definitely recommend … More Carroll Construction.
Faith Phillips ★★★★★ 3 years ago
It’s no small decision to build a custom home, let alone to choose the right builder to do so. When we chose Carroll Construction we knew we were going to receive integrity in communication … More and quality, but they exceeded that expectation. Despite all the ups and downs of the current construction market, high costs, product delays, etc. Carroll Construction was made to handle all these curveballs with ease. I feel if we were with any other builder, there would have been stress, chaos, confusion, etc. but they knew exactly how to navigate these misfortunes and end with a successful product and happy client. We are also extremely pleased with the quality of craftsmanship; they went above and beyond to build expertly in every way.
Above all else, there was always an open and continuous conversation between us and the building team. We cannot thank Carroll Construction enough for building our family home that will hold so many of our wonderful memories to come!